Honeywell locks out union workers in labor dispute

METROPOLIS, Ill. (AP) - A southern Illinois plant that makes nuclear fuel has locked out its union workers over a labor dispute.

Honeywell spokesman Peter Dalpe says the move Monday night in Metropolis came after no substantial progress was made with United Steelworkers union negotiators earlier that day. The union's contract expired a week ago.

Dalpe says the union again refused to agree to give 24-hours notice before a strike action.

After the lockout, the company was running the plant using trained and certified salaried employees, with plans to continue training a temporary, contingent work force.

Union official Mike Mezo calls the lockout "a crazy strategy" by Honeywell.

The plant has 285 workers, including 228 union members.